Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Lawrence, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 70.1% of gross income.

Lawrence rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Lawrence median rent
$2,379/mo
Bartender salary (Massachusetts)
$40,751/yr
Rent as % of income
70.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,396, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,019/mo in rent. Lawrence's median rent of $2,379 exceeds that threshold by $1,360/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 121.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Lawrence, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Methuen, MA
$2,378/mo (70% of income)
Brockton, MA
$2,377/mo (70% of income)
Franklin, MA
$2,375/mo (69.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lawrence

View full rent data for Lawrence, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Lawrence, MA?

Median rent in Lawrence is $2,379 a month. A typical bartender in Massachusetts earns about $40,751 a year, which makes that rent 70.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Lawrence?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Massachusetts (~$40,751/yr) supports up to $1,019 a month in rent. Lawrence's current median rent is $2,379/mo, which is $1,360/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Lawrence?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a bartender in Massachusetts works roughly 121.4 hours a month to cover Lawrence's median rent of $2,379.

Where is rent cheaper than Lawrence for a bartender?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Methuen ($2,378/mo), Brockton ($2,377/mo), Franklin ($2,375/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Massachusetts state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Lawrence, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.